Ivan Misner

You cannot get a haircut over the phone. And you can’t have a successful business group if people do not show up. Absenteeism will affect membership AND referrals. If you want more business referrals, you have to show up to your networking meetings.

Throwback Thursday At last year’s BNI US & Canada National Conference, I talked with BNI Executive Director, Ed Wilson, host of the BNI San Diego Podcast. We talked about legacy and choosing to leave an intentional legacy that goes beyond business success. tinyurl.com/44zdtyxm

Networking isn’t about quick wins or collecting contacts; it is about patience, trust, and consistency.  Rushing relationships may speed up failure, not success. Successful networkers understand that meaningful relationships take time to build. tinyurl.com/y6eb7man

BNI Australia member, Bradley Page, shares Ross McCammon's "Two Beers and a Puppy" test. We discuss how it fits in with the concepts in my book, Who's In Your Room? Learn how this can help you identify the engines and the anchors in your life. tinyurl.com/3f5upmce

bit.ly/3AFPCpa #Ivanism

Have You Attended My Free “Founder’s Education Series”? It’s a LIVE event to help BNI members grow their businesses. Register for the May 12th event: “Ask the Founder.” BNI members & Directors can see the recordings of all the previous ones on BNI Academy. tinyurl.com/2kcaexj2

For people to refer you they must know what service you provide & how well you do it. When asked, "What do you tell people about who you are & what you do?" I say that I’m changing the way the world does business by teaching people, "When it comes to referrals - Givers Gain."

Is the “easy path” really easier? I’ve learned that taking the hard path now often makes life and business easier later. The same is true for networking—real results come from consistent, intentional work. Are you choosing hard/easy or easy/hard? tinyurl.com/ycx3yvb2

Interview on The BNI Effect Podcast I joined host, Tony Meredith, for the 100th episode of his podcast. We talked about the true meaning of Givers Gain & how BNI grew into a global force by helping entrepreneurs build powerful, referral-based businesses. youtube.com/watch?v=j6Je97…

Accountability is important for your business & for business networking. Having someone to talk to on a regular basis can help us focus on the business goals that we set for ourselves. I share 7 questions to help you find the right accountability partner. tinyurl.com/khrmucvs

My Interview on The Morning Blend Milwaukee TV Show I had a good time talking with host, Molly Fay, this week. We discussed the Five Types of People you need in your network and how each of the different types are beneficial. Watch and share. tmj4.com/shows/the-morn…

There are TWO More Days to Apply for a 1-2-1 with Me BNI Members: The final date to submit your request to be part of my 2026 Founder’s Day event is 20th April by 11:59 pm EDT. Get more information and complete the form here: tinyurl.com/3a5zjmeu

Strong relationships build strong networks. Strong networks lead to business success. IvanMisner.com #business #networking

Friday Flashback – Fun at BNI Global Convention! I found a purse on my table at the 2022 BNI Global Convention in Singapore. We made sure it was returned to its owner. Join me in Monaco for networking & fun at this year’s event, October 28-30. tinyurl.com/55j9w3rf

In March 2026, BNI members passed more than 1.4 million referrals, resulting in over $2.2 billion USD in closed business for fellow members. These results highlight the strength of a global community built on trust, accountability, and meaningful connections.

Top 10 Characteristics of a Great Networker – Part 2 Great networking isn’t about collecting contacts—it’s about creating connections. In this video, I share the final five of the top 10 traits that help you build meaningful, lasting relationships. tinyurl.com/bdd295ef

Great questions lead to conversations. Meaningful conversations can build relationships. Strong relationships lead to business referrals. tinyurl.com/y8nz3ra3 #business #referrals #conversations

Have you ever known you should do something and not done it? That's because you can't think your way into transformation. You have to live your way into transformation. I share more in this episode and invite you to listen and share. tinyurl.com/3pf6xwjm

In a global economy, it is important to understand cultural differences when you are conducting business around the world. I invite you to visit my blog to get the top 5 tips that I use. tinyurl.com/4wfx94rc #ivanmisner #culturaldifferences #business

“How do you bring a big company into your networking group?” My answer: Invite the person who is seeking new customers for their company. It won’t be a C-Suite executive; it’s not their function to bring in new clients. However, they DO put salespeople into groups.